How does a hybrid car work?
Peter Sitkowski | 15th Oct 2023 | 5 minutes to read
With the automotive industry pushing for more electric and hybrid vehicles, they are becoming more readily available and infrastructure for electric charging is becoming more widespread.
However, fully electric cars are still expensive investments and, despite increased investment into charging infrastructure, charging stations can be difficult to come by in many areas, making hybrid cars a much more appealing option for a lot of drivers.
In this article we’ll look at the major components of a hybrid car, as well as Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), and what separates them from each other and petrol vehicles:
The Differences Between Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
The main thing to note about hybrid vehicles is that, unlike an electric vehicle, they still have an internal combustion engine. Alongside this engine there is an electric engine, which is powered by batteries.
A standard hybrid vehicle cannot be charged by plugging it in like you can with an electric car, but instead has its electric engine charged through regenerative braking (kinetic energy from the vehicle decelerating that is captured and used) and the combustion engine.
This diagram shows the major components of a hybrid vehicle.
Benefits of a Hybrid Car Over Petrol
There are many benefits to a hybrid vehicle when compared to standard petrol and diesel motors and they have an impact on your wallet as well as your commute.
Reduced Emissions
For the environmentally conscious driver, exhaust emissions can be a major reason to switch from petrol to electric or hybrid.
Hybrid vehicles contain an electric engine, powered by a battery pack, which assists the petrol engine during acceleration and low-speed driving. The fact that there is an electric engine running instead of the petrol engine means that your emissions are reduced significantly, and this feature is especially useful during congested city driving, where you’re likely to be consistently driving more slowly.
The regenerative braking feature of hybrids also comes into play in this scenario, as there is a lot of braking and therefore, a lot of energy that would normally be wasted in a petrol car that is instead being stored for later use by the hybrid’s electric motor.
Do You Save Money on Petrol With a Hybrid?
Due to the dual-engine setup of a hybrid vehicle, the electric engine is utilised for a large portion of your low-speed driving, meaning that you use less petrol and reap the benefits. With petrol prices at an all-time high and fluctuating constantly, avoiding top-ups can add up enough to make up the extra cost of a hybrid vehicle.
Understanding Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs)
Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) represent a hybrid-electric crossover, offering a unique blend of benefits from both worlds. These vehicles feature a larger battery than conventional hybrids, allowing them to travel significant distances on electric power alone, provided they are charged regularly.
Here we can see the different components in a plug-in hybrid.
The Plug-In Experience
Like a standard hybrid, PHEVs seamlessly transition to their petrol engines, eliminating range anxiety on longer trips. However, PHEVs can also be charged using a standard household outlet or a dedicated charging station, like an electric car, allowing you to harness the benefits of full-electric driving as well.
PHEVs offer a substantial electric-only driving range compared to traditional hybrids, making them perfect for daily commuters. The exact range varies between models but is typically between 30 to 60 kilometres.
These PHEV hybrids might also have a zero-emission electric-only mode, making them even more environmentally friendly than standard hybrid vehicles.
The Downside of PHEVs
The major downside of PHEVs over hybrids is — you guessed it — the cost. While a standard hybrid car is more expensive than a petrol engine car, you’ll see further costs upfront with an PHEV. You’re also going to have charging and petrol costs to think about and the complexity of handling the two different engine’s needs.
On top of these factors, you’re likely going to lose cargo space and have a heavier vehicle due to the larger battery an PHEV requires, which is something to take into account when making your final decision.
Is a Hybrid Car Worth It?
Whether you’re looking at a standard hybrid vehicle or a PHEV, there’s a lot to consider. Ultimately, you need to decide whether your driving habits mean you’ll make the most of the electric engine. The upfront cost of a hybrid vehicle means that you’ll likely only save money on fuel in a standard hybrid if you’re doing a lot of consistent driving at lower speeds, so you can really get the most out of the regenerative braking and electric engine.
For an PHEV, most of the value will come from ensuring that the electric engine is constantly charged and that you’re utilising it whenever possible. This means that not only do you have to ensure you will charge the vehicle, you need to make sure that the infrastructure is available in your area to be able to use EV charging stations consistently.
